George l



(Model.)

Gf.A L'. WITSIL.,

ROLLER SKATE..

No. 266,002. n Patented Oct. 17. 1882.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE L. WITSIL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO SAMUEL G.PAPE AND ALBION FOULDS. OE SAME PLAGE.

ROLLER-SKATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 266,002, dated October17, 1882,

Application filed January 28, 1852. (Model.) Y

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE L. WusIL, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania. have invented an Improvementin Roller-Skates, ot' -which the following is a specilication.

My invention embodies certain improvements in the application of therollers to the foot-stock ot' a roller-skate of such character as toenable the skater to make sharp turns and to aid in giving a veryperfect lateral throw to the foot-stock with respect to the i' rollers.

The improvements are hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents in side elevation askate embodying my improvements, the front roller-truck beingl centrallysectioned in a vertical longitudinal plane. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan viewot' the same, the depending brackets of the front roller-truck beinghorizontally sectioned close to the base-plate and the front rollersbeing removed. I1`ig.3 is a top plan View ofone ofthe trucks, showingthe rubber cushion; and Fig. etlis a rear view, partially in section andpartially in elevation, ot' a truck embodying my improvements.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In the drawings, A represents the foot-stock ofthe skate, which is ofany suitable material and construction.

There are, as usual, two trucks, which I make precisely alike. Thedescription hereinafter givenrelates to but one ot them.

B are the depending brackets of the truck, which branch downward fromits base-plate O and carry the axle. This hase-plate of the truck iscentrally provided with an elliptical or other shaped opening, I),adapted to contain a rubber cushion, E, fitted therein and bearingagainst and partially mortised into the under surface of the foot-stock.

F is a truck guard-plate, tted against the under surface ofthebase-plate ofthe truck between its depending brackets, the office otwhich is to incase and hold in place the rubber cushion, and also, ashereinafter explained,

to provide means for limiting the lateral thro w of the truck about itspivot. This plate is of greater lepngth than the length ot' thebaseplate ot the truck, and it extends beyond said base-plate toward thecenter of thei'ootstock, and as to such extended portion is providedwith an a rc-shaped guard-slot, G, which is clear of' the base-plate ot'the truck.

Each truck is pivoted upon a pivot, Il, fixed in the foot-'stock andlocated centrally ot' the base plate and at that end ot' the same whichis farthest from the center of the foot-stock.

I is a guard-stud entered through the guardslot G and fastened in theunder surface ot' the foot-stock. This guard-stud limits the lateralthrow of the truck.

J is a supplemental guard stud, entered through the guard-plate andpassing through the rubber cushion into the foot-stock. It is a deviceauxiliary to the guard-stud I, and which may, it' desired, be dispensedwith.

Such heilig the method of construction and application of the trucks tothe foot-stock, it is obvious that each truck is capable of a limitedlateral movement about its pivot and with respect to the foot-stock,such movements being ot' advantage in the use ot' a roller-skate, as iswell understood in their manufacture.

The cushion serves not only as a cushioning device against the weightot' the skater upon the foot-stock, but also, by virtue of its embracewithin the opening in the base-plate of the truck and in the recess ormortised seat K out for it in the under face of the foot-stock, servesto limit the lateral throw of the truck, and also to return said truckafter its deflection to either side to a central position with respectto the foot-stock.

Transversely fitted between the lower extremities ot' the dependingbrackets of the trucks is an axle, L, which is adapted to be providedwith three or more spherical balls, M, of metal, glass, or other litmaterial, which are designed to ali'ord a balland-soeket attachment, soto speak, for the rollers N ofthe skate.

Two of these rollers are applied to the axle ot' each truck, and are soreamed out from their opposite faces toward their centers upon the lineof tleir axial openings that they iit around V the balls, so to speak,and are hung or suspended thereupon and upon the axle, so as to becapable not only of a motion ot' revolution, but ot an eccentric motionwith respect to the axle and truck. The rollers revolve upon the ballsand the balls revolve upon the axle, the

entire device together enabling a compoundswivel or gimbal movement,soto speak. It is essential that three balls at least should beemployed, although when it is desired to separate the rollers to anexceptional width, as in making large sizes of skates, more than twoballs may be applied centrally upon the axle between the rollers.

l have represented screws in the drawings as a means of attaching thevarious parts of the trucks to the foot-stock. 1 may, however, dispensewith thescrews and employ pins in lieu thereof.

A metallic plate may be applied to the footstock to prevent wear of thewood in the action of the lateral throw ofthe truck. Washers may beapplied to lessen friction,if desired.

Having thus described my invention, it will be understood that the`foot-stock rests upon springs, the rubber cushion acting in suchcapacity while likewise serving to regulate the amount of lateralvibration and to control and steady the lateral throw.

From the foregoing relationship ot' parts results the advantage thateach tru'ck is separately so adjusted as to be capable or" independentmovements irrespective ofthe other truck, whereby my roller-skate isadapted to accommodate itself withoutjar to the user and without noiseto irregular floors, pavements, or the like.

This skate is well adapted for use in the turning of sharp curves, whileits construction lessens the chances of breaking strains upon thetrucks.

1 do not confine myself to the exact form of detailed parts shown, as itis obvious that many formal changes can be made by a skilled mechanicwithout departure from the essential features of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. In combination with theaxle of a rollertruck, two rollers and three revolving balls placedrespectively between and exterior to the rollers, as and for the purposespecified.

2. In combination with a truck which is pivoted to the foot-stock of aroller-skate, a rubber cushion partially seated in a recess in the undersurfaceot' the foot-stock and in a recess in the truck, substantially asand for the purposes described.

3. In aroller-skate, two rollers reamedout on both sides of their hollowaxes, in combination with three anti-friction balls mounted upon theaxle ot' said rollers, as and for the purposes set forth.

1n testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 20th day ot'January, A. D. 1882.

GEO. L. VlTbIL. In presence of J. BoNsALL TAYLOR, W. Q STRAWBRlDGE.

